Jiangzi's Path to Proving Himself

But just a few steps after bidding Su Dashan farewell, he happened to spot a middle-aged man sitting on a bench around the corner ahead.

Oh? Looking at him, isn't that Jiangzi?

Su Ge looked at Yu Xiaogang and his short crew cut. His steps paused as he glanced back at the gatekeeper, who was still watching the entrance, and he roughly formed a few guesses.

His eyes flickered slightly, then he continued into Nuoding Academy as though nothing had happened.

Yu Xiaogang noticed him at that moment as well, but after giving his plain yet somewhat striking appearance an extra glance, he withdrew his gaze.

Since this child had entered Nuoding Academy's gates without issue, he presumably was not the target Yu Xiaogang was looking for.

With that thought, he continued flipping through the book in his hands.

Between its turning pages, two pieces of information could vaguely be seen. Judging by the patterns on them, they were records from Spirit Hall!

Yu Xiaogang looked at the two names on the documents. One was Tang San, while the other was none other than Su Ge!

I never expected two geniuses with Innate Full Soul Power to appear in a tiny place like Nuoding City. Heaven truly favors me!

Yu Xiaogang stared at the two files, but compared to the child with the mutated Martial Soul, he was actually more interested in the child named Tang San.

In his view, this child possessed greater talent than the one with the beneficial mutation and could better help him prove himself!

Taking either child as my disciple would prove myself, but Heaven has given me such an excellent opportunity this time... I'll take them both!

A gleam of wisdom flashed through Yu Xiaogang's eyes. He closed the book and looked toward the gatekeeper at the entrance, but said nothing.

What Yu Xiaogang did not know was that Su Ge had somehow already silently climbed into a large tree behind him.

Yu Xiaogang had spent so many years living comfortably at Nuoding Academy. Furthermore, he was still within the academy grounds, so he naturally had little guard up against his surroundings. This gave Su Ge an opening.

Thus, Su Ge had seen the documents tucked between the pages of Yu Xiaogang's book perfectly clearly!

However, he did not make a sound. After glancing at the elderly man and child approaching the entrance once more, he quietly left the treetop and hurried toward the Academic Affairs Office.

Watching any longer would be too risky. He did not dare gamble on whether Tang Rat had come along.

If Tang Hao learned that he had seen Tang San taking a master and overheard the secret of the Twin Martial Souls, then given Tang Hao's personality, Su Ge could not guarantee that the man would refrain from silencing him just because of moral restraint against bullying the young.

Between dying and acting like a dog, Su Ge decisively chose to slip away and lie low for the time being.

As he walked toward the Academic Affairs Office, Su Ge also cleared up some doubts in his mind.

"No wonder a mere gatekeeper dared to stop a future Soul Master. Yu Xiaogang was backing him."

"Then what happened with Tang San was most likely not an accident either."

That was still Su Ge's conservative guess, but it was enough.

As for where Yu Xiaogang had obtained the documents, Su Ge was not surprised. As long as Yu Xiaogang still received Spirit Hall's stipend, Bibi Dong would naturally know where he was.

What was so difficult about finding an excuse to grant him a little preferential treatment?

Besides, judging from Director Su's opinion of Yu Xiaogang in the original story, the headmaster of Nuoding Academy had nevertheless allowed Yu Xiaogang to continue living there.

Perhaps aside from Yu Xiaogang genuinely possessing some knowledge, there must have been some strings pulled behind the scenes as well!

"Forget it. Thinking too much about these things will only create needless worries. For now, I should learn as much as possible about Soul Beasts and consider what kind of Soul Beast I should seek for my first Soul Ring."

Although Su Ge did not particularly want to get involved in this matter, Yu Xiaogang already had his records. Given his personality, further trouble would certainly come knocking.

Rather than rack his brains over how to deal with it, he might as well improve his strength as quickly as possible. As long as he was strong enough, he could deal with whatever came his way.

Su Ge headed deeper into Nuoding Academy. He was not in a hurry to find the Academic Affairs Office and instead familiarized himself with the surroundings.

When it came to the place with the richest knowledge about Soul Beasts, aside from the materials in Yu Xiaogang's possession, all of Nuoding Academy had only a small library.

However, Yu Xiaogang's materials were not easy to get at for the moment, so the academy's limited collection was his only preferred target.

After roughly familiarizing himself with the campus, Su Ge finally headed toward the teaching building to report to the Academic Affairs Office and complete his enrollment procedures as a work-study student.

After settling everything, Su Ge ran into a child who looked five or six years old. He had wheat-colored skin, short black hair, and equally plain clothes.

Yu Xiaogang stood beside him, and it seemed that the apprenticeship had gone quite smoothly.

Looking at this child, who like him had come from a village, Su Ge merely turned his mind slightly and understood the identity of the person before him.

"Hello, my name is Tang San. I'm a work-study student from Holy Soul Village. Are you a new student this year too?"

Tang San looked at Su Ge, who was nearly a head taller than him, with curiosity in his eyes.

He sensed that the other boy was very different from ordinary children.

This difference was not merely that Su Ge possessed Soul Power or had an outstanding appearance, yet Tang San could not say exactly what it was.

"Yes. My name is Su Ge. I'm also a work-study student this year, from Small Stone Village."

"The Academic Affairs Office is behind you. Go report in first. I'll be going now. See you later."

Su Ge gave a simple greeting and exchanged a few words. Before leaving, he still politely said, "Hello, Teacher," to Yu Xiaogang.

Then he walked away without looking back, never seeing the shocked expression that appeared on Yu Xiaogang's stiff face.

After taking a deep breath, Yu Xiaogang led Tang San into the Academic Affairs Office. Just as in the original story, he had Tang San register on his own before leaving.

However, this time, he did not return to the academy gate to continue waiting. Instead, he strode quickly in the direction Su Ge had left.

He truly had not expected that Su Ge, the other child he had been waiting for, had already entered the academy. But it was not too late. As long as he found him, he could certainly persuade him to become his disciple!

Expectation filled Yu Xiaogang's eyes as he hurried toward the area below the teaching building.

Yet when he caught up, Su Ge had long since disappeared!

Seeing how quickly Su Ge had left, Yu Xiaogang could only let the matter go. He could not exactly chase after him to the work-study dormitory and take him as a disciple, could he?

That would be far too deliberate and did not suit his style.

"Forget it. When the time comes, I'll have Tang San reveal a little of my vast knowledge and Martial Soul theory to him. He will naturally come to me and ask to become my disciple."

With that thought, Yu Xiaogang regained his composure and headed toward his residence with his hands clasped behind his back.